W... H... (🌧️ ⛰️ For the younger generation)

Having taken my obligatory photo I left bright and early this morning ready for my biggest stage (30Km).  For most of the morning it was cold and windy as I walked through bare hilltops with very little cover.  This is why my thoughts turned to literature (see title).  Historically, as some of my readers may know I have been considered an avid reader.  However, over the last few years my consumption of books has suffered from the competition of Netflix.  I don't want to knock films and series (although that is exactly what I'm

doing) but I can't think of a film that I have appreciated as much as any one of my top ten favorite books.

As with many things in life (but not all) the easier they are the less satisfying they end up being.

My musings on literature were interrupted by the arrival of a new companion.  An amicable dog decided to show me the way.  We walked together for a few miles into and out of the next village.  I was begining to think that I was going to be

bringing back a friend for Eliot, when suddenly an old blue Peugeot pulled up behind me and a woman got out and called "Henri, tu es insupportable, viens ici"  my co-pilgrim slunk back to the car, the end of a beautiful friendship.

In the afternoon the wind dropped and the sun, despite a veil of clouds, did a good job of warming things up.  I was able to remove 2 layers of clothing. (But no sunglasses yet).

As I arrived at the village of Aubrac (not the destination of the day) I was confronted by this sculpture made by an Alsatian using the Golden Ratio (whatever that means).  The inscription reads "Dans le silence et la solitude... On n'entend plus que l'essentiel".  Well I've definitely been in silence and solitude but I'm not sure I've only been hearing the essential as evidenced by my blog!

Finally around 5:30 PM I arrived at my gite for the night.  My hosts Sylvie and Eric welcomed me and introduced me to my first real life walkers!  Sophie and Alex had left a few days before me from Le Puy and were going to be walking for 3 months.  Sophie in her forties was an ex-prison guard who now does interim jobs between long walks.  Alex is a 16 year old from a difficult background and is being coached by Sophie through the experience (this is organised by www.assoseuil.org).  Again there would be a lot more to unpack here if I had the time. 

In addition to an interesting evening, a riddle was solved for me.  If you remember, in my Ice Man blog I mentioned a Pilgrim whose tracks I followed for a while, well it seems Sophie and Alex met him.  His name is Valentin, he is 24 and suddenly decided to go walking with a stick and long flowing cape (I'm not surprised) who knows  may get a glimpse of him ahead.

Riddles:

1) The title reference, sorry for the Younger Generation, its a book! 7 points

2) Where am I.  5 points to Felicity I guess

3) Bonus: in the text there is a reference to one of my favourite movies. 6 points.

4) 1 point per right guess of books in my top ten favourite books list. 

I am now 135kms into my journey more than halfway.  The scores are:

Felicity: 28
Aunt_C: 10
Louis: 8
Sasha: 8
Baudouin:7
Fabien: 5 (Since nobody guessed the Day 2 title reference)